Name
Ernest Quilter
13th January 1876
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/06/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
1675
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
23rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TANCREZ FARM CEMETERY
I. B. 1.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Cottered Memorial.
Pre War
Ernest Quilter was born in Cottered Warren, Hertfordshire on the 13th Jan 1876, the second son of Albert Quilter (born in 1841 in Waltham, Essex) a Farmer and Mary Whaley (nee Garratt, born in 1848 in Roydon, Essex). Ernest was baptised on the 29th Nov 1877 in the Parish of Cottered, Herts, at the same time as his sister Mary Elizabeth.
The 1881 Census records Ernest (aged 5) living with his parents, brothers Albert (aged 6), Clifford (aged 7 months) and sister Mary Elizabeth (aged 3), at 1 The Warren, Cottered, Herts. Ernest attended Cottered Church of England School from Nov 1880 to Aug 1885. The 1891 Census records Ernest aged 15, a pupil boarder at the College School, Hitchin Street, Baldock, Herts. Ernest’s father died on 31 Oct 1891. Ernest’s mother later lived in Ilford, Essex with her daughter Kate’s family (Vincent, 1911 Census). On the 1911 Census Ernest is recorded as single aged 35 and lodging with Mr & Mrs George Cordell, at Little Osborne’s Farm, Cottered, Herts. His occupation was given as a Labourer.
On the outbreak of war Ernest was living and working in West Kensington, Middlesex, London.
Wartime Service
On the outbreak of war Ernest was living and working in West Kensington, Middlesex, London.
Aged 39 Ernest enlisted in Hammersmith, Middlesex, London on 16 Jul 1915 and posted to the 23rd (Service) Battalion, (2nd Footballers) Middlesex Regiment, (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) as Private F/1675. Ernest was transferred to 27th (Reserve) Battalion on 4 Nov 1915 and on 29 Dec 1915 back to the 23rd Battalion. Ernest landed in France on the 3rd May 1916, with his Battalion. The battalion moved to the Hazebrouck and Bailleul area near Ypres. Just 59 days later he was Killed in Action on the 24 Jun 1916, he is buried in the CWGC Tancrez Farm Cemetery, Hainault, Belgium.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £19s 2d was paid to his mother Mary. Brother Clifford Charles served in 572 Coy Army Service Corps as a Baker from Oct 1916, being demobilized in Feb 1919.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Neil Cooper
